JP2008097062A - Information input device and menu selection method of computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately input various instructions in a narrow range of finger motion. <P>SOLUTION: An information input device comprises a movable part 52 having a display 54 disposed so as to oscillate right and left, and front and rear to a base part 51; a plurality of push-in switches 11a-11c disposed on an upper face of the movable part 52 to be pressed by being pushed in with a finger; a pressing position detection means 12 for detecting which of the push-in switches 11a-11c is pressed; and a moving direction detection means 13 for detecting a direction in which the movable part 52 has moved in an interval from a start of pressing until an end of pressing when the finger oscillates the movable part 52 while pressing the switches 11a-11c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multimodal user interface technology for inputting characters and commands to an information device, and in particular, is realized by a small and relatively simple mechanism that assists user operations by comprehensively using visual and tactile sensations. The present invention relates to an information input device and a computer menu selection method.

  Conventionally, a technique for inputting information to a computer with a simple operation has been proposed. In general, in order to input a variety of information with one finger, it is effective to specify information to be input by combining the descending position and the ascending position of the fingertip. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, when the movement range of the finger is reduced in order to reduce the size of the device, it is difficult to accurately grasp the lowered position and the raised position that are approached within the narrow movement range.

  Moving the cursor displayed on the screen without any tactile cues, especially when moving your finger on a flat surface such as a touchpad, touch display, or foldable mobile device or in a small, limited space As a result, it is necessary to operate while visually confirming, and the load of visual attention increases, so that the operation efficiency is lowered and the erroneous input is also increased.

  In order to solve this problem, when specifying the information to be input by combining the lowering position and the rising position of the fingertip, a different tactile stimulus is applied depending on the position of the fingertip, so that the difference between the lowering position and the rising position A system was devised that can be grasped more clearly, and it has become possible to grasp the finger position clearly while moving the finger quickly and rely on the tactile sensation in a narrow movement range, but the input is correct, but the mechanism was complicated . (See Patent Document 3).

  Furthermore, the shape and size of the cursor keys can be changed for each direction so that they can be distinguished by touch. On the other hand, a method of inputting information by using tactile information on the unevenness of the ball-shaped protrusion arrangement as a clue has been proposed. (See Patent Documents 4 to 6).

In addition, the foldable portable terminals described in Patent Document 7 and Patent Document 8 are provided with displays on both front and back sides of the movable part, and when the movable part is folded with respect to the base part, A structure in which a display is exposed on the surface side is also disclosed.
JP-A-11-224161 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-55222 JP 2002-278694 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-90922 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-353091 JP 2001-166871 A JP 2006-238495 A JP 2006-246336 A

  However, it has been difficult to introduce these methods into a touch display, a touch panel, or a foldable portable terminal. In particular, in the portable terminals of Patent Document 7 and Patent Document 8, since the movable portion provided with the display is coupled to the base portion by a hinge mechanism that can only be folded, switch means provided on the movable portion. In addition, there is a problem that the menu displayed on the display cannot be selected by moving only the movable part relative to the base part.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has been devised for use and configuration of a conventional touch pad, touch display, or folding portable terminal, and accurately within a narrow finger movement range. An object of the present invention is to provide an information input device and a computer menu selection method capable of inputting various instructions.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information input device according to the present invention is provided with a movable part installed so as to be able to swing back and forth with respect to a base part, and is placed on the upper part of the movable part and pressed by a finger to be pressurized. A plurality of push switches, a pressure position detecting means for detecting which push switch among the push switches is pressed, and pressurization is started when a finger swings while pushing the push switch. The moving direction detecting means for detecting the direction in which the movable portion has moved from when the pressurization is finished until the pressurization is completed, and the upper level of the item selected in association with the position of the push switch detected by the pressing position detecting means A hierarchical menu structure comprising menus and lower menus from which items are selected in association with the swinging direction of the movable part detected by the moving direction detecting means Menu control means for continuously highlighting or popping up during pressurization and ending the highlight or popup when pressurization is completed, and a menu for highlighting the focused item in the lower menu Item highlighting means, and menu focus control means for moving the focus in the menu in a direction corresponding to the swinging direction of the movable part during pressurization detected by the movement direction detection means. Features.

  In the present invention, since the information input device is installed so that the movable part can be swung and displaced back and forth with respect to the base part, for example, not only from the operation of a switch group fixedly arranged on the base part. Since a menu can be selected by combining the operation of multiple push switches placed on the movable part and the operation of swinging the entire movable part back and forth with respect to the base part, a small number of switches provided in a small area It becomes possible to obtain an information input device that can specify various information. In addition, in order to reduce the cost of the apparatus, a pressing position detecting means and a moving direction detecting means for detecting the “pressing position” and the “moving direction” are provided by a simple switch mechanism. Menu control means (menu pop-up means, menu focus control means, menu item highlight means, and menu design) for inputting various information in a visually easy-to-understand manner is provided. Furthermore, since the conventional touch panel, touch display, or foldable mobile terminal has a solid structure that does not deform, it lacked tactile cues during operation, but the simplified pressure position detection means and movement direction detection of the present invention In the means, since there is a part that physically moves in the apparatus, it is possible to give a tactile clue such as a protrusion that stimulates a finger in a different form depending on the click feeling and the operation direction. Even when there is no need to reduce the cost, it is possible to easily input various information by using the menu control means provided by the present invention while using a conventional touch pad or touch display.

  In the past, composite switches such as directional switches that combine push-in and direction selection have been developed and sold, but these switches have the advantage of being able to input a variety of information with a single switch, but what is input? It is difficult to confirm whether the user is doing it, and the problem is that it is likely to cause an erroneous input. In the present invention, it is often found in the conventional composite switch by confirming the click with a feeling of clicking, confirming the swinging direction with a stimulus of a protrusion applied to the finger, and providing abundant tactile cues. This makes it possible to reduce erroneous input.

  In the present invention, in a hierarchical menu structure, a menu item at a position determined by the direction of finger movement is selected with the focused menu item as a center, and a change in the pressure state of the finger or a confirmation button provided separately is selected. The selection is validated by operation.

  Here, the focused menu item is highlighted, but “highlight display” means that it is sufficient if it can be identified that the menu item is focused.

  The pressurization position detecting means detects which switch of the plurality of push-in switches arranged is pressed with a finger, and displays a lower-level menu including items of 3 rows and 3 columns associated with the pressed positions. In the highlighted display or pop-up display, the operator moves his / her finger forward / backward / left / right while pressing the switch, detects the movement of the finger by the moving direction detecting means, and highlights the lower menu. Move the item to be displayed to the position corresponding to the finger movement.

  In order to prevent erroneous operation and malfunction, it is preferable that the time interval from the end of pressurization to the start of pressurization is less than or equal to a predetermined interval when the finger is swung while moving on the push-in switch. In some cases, there is a chattering prevention means that invalidates the end and start of this pressurization and regards that pressurization has been performed continuously, and the swing direction detecting means detects the swing direction of the movable part. In addition, it is preferable to provide a means for notifying by sound or vibration that the swing amount has reached an appropriate amount.

  In the menu selection method according to the present invention, the lower menu of the menu pop-up means (hereinafter, the lower menu is also referred to as a sub menu) and the upper menu (hereinafter, the upper menu is also referred to as a main menu). In the hierarchical menu structure comprising: one of the lower menus, which is an item of the upper menu, is selected according to which one of the plurality of push switches is pushed, and the push switch When the movable part is swung while the button is depressed, one of the items in the 3rd row and the 3rd column of the lower menu selected when the push switch is pushed is selected according to the swiveling direction. It is characterized by.

  In the above menu selection method, the lower menu corresponding to the pressurization position is highlighted or popped up while the movable part is swung left and right and back and forth with the push switch pressed. Subsequently, the menu focus is moved from the center item of the lower menu according to the swinging direction of the movable portion, and the desired menu item is highlighted.

  Further, the present invention is configured as a foldable portable terminal in which the base portion is formed as a hand-held side, and the movable portion is foldable with respect to the base portion via a hinge mechanism, and the movable portion is formed. The hinge mechanism itself swings so that the portion can swing back and forth and right and left, and the moving direction detection means is provided in the hinge mechanism.

  If the hinge mechanism itself swings and the swing direction is detected by the moving direction detecting means, the same information input device can be displayed on the display even when the portable terminal is folded. It can be used to select menu items, and the convenience of mobile terminals can be expanded.

  In the present invention, the hinge mechanism is provided with a stimulus imparting means for stimulating the finger according to the swinging motion of the movable part in the left and right directions, and the finger is stimulated tactilely through the stimulus imparting means. The movable part is configured such that the operator can distinguish the swinging direction of the left and right and front and rear.

  Further, in the present invention, three or four push switches are arranged on the upper surface of the movable part, and the arrangement of the items in the third row and the third column of the lower menu (submenu) is associated with these push switches, A menu with 3 rows and 9 columns arranged as a whole and 3 rows and 9 columns as a whole, or 4 rows and arranged as a whole and 3 rows and 12 columns as a whole. Further, the character arrangement of the QWERTY keyboard is added to this menu item. Characters are arranged so as to simulate. Then, depending on which of the three or four push switches arranged horizontally on the upper surface of the movable part is pressed, the focus is moved to the submenu at the corresponding position, and the area corresponding to the submenu is set. Highlight. If the movable part is swung while the push switch is depressed, one of the three rows and three columns in the subordinate menu highlighted according to the swiveling direction. The focus moves to and the item corresponding to the swing direction is highlighted. Then, the character of the item selected when the finger is pushed in and released from the switch is input.

  Alternatively, in order to make the subordinate menu more prominent, the character arrangement that simulates the alphabetical arrangement of the QWERTY keyboard is divided into three or four areas arranged side by side, and the alphabetic alphabet in each area is divided into three rows and three columns. These are arranged as an array of items and displayed as a pop-up display by the menu pop-up means as a lower menu (submenu). Depending on whether the pressurization position is on three or four push-in switches arranged, the submenu at the corresponding position can be popped up.

  In the above, characters are assigned so as to approximate the character array of the QWERTY keyboard to the array of items of 3 rows, 9 columns, or 3 rows, 12 columns, in which 3 or 3 submenus of 3 rows and 3 columns are arranged side by side. Similarly, if two sub-menus of 3 rows and 3 columns are arranged vertically, items of 6 rows and 3 columns can be arranged, and characters can be assigned thereto so as to approximate the arrangement of the numeric keys of the mobile phone. In this case, the focus is moved to the submenu at the corresponding position according to which one of the push switches arranged vertically on the upper surface of the movable part is pressed, and the area corresponding to the submenu Is highlighted. If the movable part is swung while the push switch is depressed, one of the three rows and three columns in the subordinate menu highlighted according to the swiveling direction. The focus moves to and the item corresponding to the swing direction is highlighted. Then, the character of the item selected when the finger is pushed in and released from the switch is input.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a transparent cover part is installed on the front surface of the display so as to be swingable in the left and right directions, and the transparent cover part side is used as the movable part. According to this, while protecting the display by the transparent cover part, pressing the push switch arranged on it and pressing it while swinging the movable part left and right, back and forth, select menu items, characters etc. It is possible to execute input of information and to increase convenience.

  In the computer menu selection method according to the present invention, the movable part installed so as to be able to swing back and forth with respect to the base part is swung back and forth and right and left while pressing a plurality of push switches provided on the upper surface thereof. A method of selecting a menu displayed hierarchically on a display, wherein a pressing position detecting step of detecting a pressing position of the pressing switch to detect which pressing switch is pressed; A movement direction detecting step for detecting a direction in which the movable portion has moved between the start of pressurization and the end of pressurization when the push switch is swung while being pressurized, and the pressurization position detection means The submenu associated with the detected push switch position is continuously highlighted or popped up during pressurization A step of ending the highlight display or pop-up display when ending, and further highlighting the focused item in the second step in the highlighted or pop-up submenu, and the movement And a step of moving the focus in the menu to an item in the corresponding direction according to the swinging direction of the movable part during pressurization detected by the direction detecting means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently select a hierarchical menu with a simple mechanism by combining the pressurization state by the pressurization operation to the push-in switch from the finger and the swinging direction, and a narrow finger movement range. It is possible to input various instructions accurately, and efficiently select menu items that arrange characters so that they are compatible with the key layout of the conventional QWERTY keyboard and the numeric keypad layout of mobile phones. It was possible to input. Further, it is possible to improve the drawbacks of the composite switch, which has been frequently erroneously input, by using a mechanism that notifies the tactile sense of the swinging direction.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information input device (sometimes referred to as a “data input device”) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the case where the information input device 1 is applied to the foldable portable terminal 50 shown in FIG. 3 will be described as an example. The information input device 1 includes an input unit 10 for inputting finger operation information, a processing unit 30 for processing information to be displayed on a display such as menu items based on the input information, and a display unit 20 for displaying processed information. And a storage unit 40 for storing data.

  The processing unit 30 includes a chattering prevention means 35 that removes chattering of a signal in a pressurization state and a swing direction (hereinafter also referred to as “movement direction”) acquired from the input unit 10, pressurization state data, and movement direction data. Menu pop-up means 31 for controlling the pop-up display of the menu, menu item highlight means 32 for highlighting the focused item in the pop-up menu, and menu focus for moving the focus in the menu to the item in the corresponding direction. Control means 33 and menu pop-up position control means 34 for changing the pop-up position of the menu are provided. Each means 31 to 35 can be realized as a function of the CPU, and is provided in either the base portion 51 or the movable portion 52 of the portable terminal 50. Of course, it may be realized by hardware such as chattering prevention means 35.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the information input device 1, that is, the movable portion 52 of the mobile terminal 50. Three push switches 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c that receive pressure due to a finger operation are provided on the operation member 11 as one component of the input unit 10 provided in the movable unit 52 of the mobile terminal 50, and the movable unit 52 of the information input device 1. It is arranged at equal intervals on the lower side. The user inputs information by pressurizing any of the push switches 11a to 11c. A submenu is selected on the lower edge of the display 20 (hereinafter also referred to as “display unit”) corresponding to the pressurization location of the operation member 11 (any one of the push switches 11a, 11b, and 11c). As shown, a high-level menu including three items corresponding to the three push switches: Menu L, Menu C, and Menu R is displayed.

  The push-in switches 11a, 11b, and 11c arranged in the left-right direction (lateral direction) will be described in detail later, as shown in FIG. The hinge mechanism can swing left and right and back and forth with respect to the base portion 51. Thus, by pressing one of the push switches 11a to 11b with a finger, it is possible to know which push switch is pressed at the three positions, left, center and right, and the pressure is applied. The position detection signal is output to the processing unit 30 of the computer.

  Further, in addition to the pressure position detecting means 12, a swinging direction (moving direction) detecting means 13 to be described later is arranged, and the movable part can be moved left and right and back and forth while maintaining a state where any push switch is pushed. The moving direction (swinging direction) can be detected by the swinging direction detecting means 13 by moving (swinging) 52.

  FIG. 2B shows a display display when the user selects Menu L by pressing (pressing) the push switch 11a of the input unit 10, for example. That is, when the push switch 11a is pressed, the submenu items SUBMENU L1 to L9 corresponding to MENU L form an array of 3 rows and 3 columns (the array of items of 3 rows and 3 columns is a submenu. Pop-up display), and L5 in the center is focused as a selection candidate and highlighted. From this state, for example, when the push switch 11a is pressed and moved (oscillated) to the left integrally with the movable portion 52, the focus position is moved from SUBMENU L5 to L4. The item that is highlighted in the submenu moves from L5 to L2 when moved forward (swings) together with the movable part 52, and the item that is highlighted when moved (swings) backward. Is moved from L5 to L8 and moved (swinged) to the right, the highlighted item is moved from L5 to L6.

  2C and 2D show characters arranged in a 3-by-9 array so as to approximate the alphabetical alphabet array of the QWERTY keyboard, and divided into three groups of left, center, and right. Each group consists of three rows and three columns of subordinate menus. When the operation member 11 of the input unit 10, that is, the push switch 11a at the left end is pressed, the left group pops up and displayed as a 3 × 3 submenu. When the movable portion 52 is moved to the right while applying pressure, the focused item in the submenu is moved to the right correspondingly, and the alphabet “D” is highlighted.

  Next, the configuration of the foldable portable terminal 50 in which the information input device 1 is incorporated will be described. That is, in FIGS. 3 to 5, the portable terminal 50 swings (moves) to the left and right and back and forth via the base portion 51 that can be held by hand and the hinge mechanism 60 shown in FIG. ) And a movable portion 52 that can be formed. The detailed structure of the hinge mechanism 60 will be described later. The base unit 51 is provided with a plurality of keys 53 for inputting information such as various characters and symbols known per se, a power switch 53a, an operation switch 53b having a menu selection function and an execution function, and the like. The movable portion 52 is provided with a display 54, and the push-in switches 11a, 11b, and 11c are arranged in a horizontal row on the lower edge thereof. Thus, the movable part 52 rotates in the directions of arrows A and B in FIG. 3C around the hinge mechanism 60 with respect to the base part 51 from the state in which the portable terminal 50 is opened as shown in FIG. Can be folded like a chain line. FIG. 5 shows the movable part 52 in a state where the movable part 52 is rotated in the direction of arrow B and folded back to the base part 51. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the movable portion 52 can swing in the left-right direction with the movable portion 52 opened. Further, the movable portion 52 can move in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. It can be swung in the front-rear direction which is opposite to the C direction.

  Next, after slightly simplifying the hinge mechanism 60 used in FIG. 3, a number 60 is newly added to the hinge mechanism provided with a mechanism for stimulating the sense of touch of the finger, and based on FIGS. explain. That is, the hinge mechanism 60 includes an upper link 61, a lower link 62, a T-shaped left link 63 that couples the upper and lower links 61, 62, and a T-shaped right link 64 like the left link 63. The links 61 to 64 are pin-coupled to each other to form a four-joint parallel link mechanism. The upper link 61 rotatably supports the movable part so that the movable part 52 can be opened and folded, and moves to the left and right and front and rear integrally with the movable part 52. The lower link 62 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the base portion 51.

  The upper link 61 includes the push-in switches 11a, 11b, and 11c, and the upper link 61 provided with the pressurization position detecting means 13 (see FIG. 1) that is electrically connected as a circuit element to an electric circuit including these switches. Is incorporated. Thus, when a force is applied in the left direction while any of the push-in switches 11a to 11c arranged in the upper link 61 is pushed, the hinge mechanism 60 is oscillated and displaced in the left direction as shown in FIG. When a force is applied in the right direction, the hinge mechanism 60 swings and displaces in the right direction as shown in FIG. 7B.

  Further, the above-mentioned four-joint parallel link mechanism is formed so as to be able to swing around the lower link 62, and when a force is applied in the forward direction while pressing any one of the push-in switches 11a to 11b, As shown in FIG. 7 (c), the four-joint parallel link mechanism is swung and displaced in the forward direction as a whole, and when a force is applied in the rear direction, it is swung and displaced in the rear direction as shown in FIG. 7 (d). It has become.

  On the other hand, the lower link 62 is provided with a pair of fixed contacts 65 and 66 that can be electrically connected to the left link 63 and the right link 64 that are movable contacts. When the hinge mechanism 60 swings leftward, the left link 63 is electrically connected to the contact 65, and when swinging rightward, the right link 64 is electrically connected to the contact 66.

  In addition, an orthogonal link (also referred to as a “movable contact”) 67 having a function as a movable contact extending a predetermined length in a direction orthogonal to the lower link 62 is integrally attached to a central portion of the lower link 62, and the base portion Electrical connection can be made with the fixed contacts 68 and 69 provided on the 51 side. When the hinge mechanism 60 swings forward, the movable contact 67 is electrically connected to the fixed contact 68 as shown in FIG. 7C. When swinging backward, the movable contact 67 is moved as shown in FIG. 7D. Electrical connection is made with the fixed contact 69.

  In this way, the hinge mechanism 60 is formed with the moving direction detecting means 12 (see FIG. 1) for detecting the forward / backward / left / right swinging (moving) direction.

  Next, tactile stimulus applying means provided in the hinge mechanism 60 will be described. When the left link 63 and the right link 64 swing in either the left or right direction, the lower part protrudes from the lower surface of the base portion 51 in accordance with the swing direction. It can be recognized whether the movable part 52 is swung in the direction. Further, when the base portion 52 is swung in the front-rear direction, any end portion of the orthogonal link 67 serving as a movable contact protrudes from the lower surface of the movable portion 52. It can be noticed whether it was swung in the direction of.

  In this way, the left link 63, the right link 64, and the orthogonal link 67 protrude from the lower surface of the base portion 51 in accordance with the swinging displacement of the hinge mechanism 60, whereby a stimulus applying means is formed by applying a stimulus to the finger. It becomes.

  As described above, it is possible to detect which push-in switches 11a to 11c are pressed by the pressurization position detection unit 12, and to determine in which direction the movable part 52 is swung (moved) by the moving direction detection unit 13 in the left / right / front / rear direction. It can be detected.

  By using the pressurization position and pressurization state data, the swing direction, and the swing amount data, the menu item is efficiently selected by the following processing.

  Next, the operation of the information input apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 8 and the screen display example of FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the processing unit 30 of the data input device 1. Here, the processing unit first determines whether or not there is pressurization using data after the chattering prevention unit 35 removes chattering from the signal sent from the pressurization position detection unit 12 (S101). If pressure is present (“YES” in S101), the pressure position is acquired (S102), and a submenu (arrangement of items in three rows and three columns) corresponding to the pressure position is popped up. Then, the item corresponding to the position moved while applying pressure in the submenu is highlighted (S104).

  For example, if the left end (MENU L position) of the input unit 10 shown in FIG. 2B is pressed, a submenu corresponding to MENU L (9 items SubMenu L1 to L9 in an array of 3 rows and 3 columns). ) Is pop-up displayed, and the item SubMenu L5 at the center position thereof is highlighted. Next, it is determined whether or not the pressurized state has been released (S105), and if not released ("NO" in S105), the movement input from the movement direction detection means 13 via the chattering prevention means 35 is determined. Direction data is input to determine whether or not the moving direction has changed (S108). If the moving direction changes and it is not a reciprocating motion (“NO” in S109), the process returns to step S104, and the sub-menu item of the pressurizing position and moving position selected with reference to the menu selection table 41 is displayed. Highlight.

  When the pressurization is released in this state (“YES” in S105), the highlighted submenu item is selected and executed (S106), and the pop-up display ends (S107).

  On the other hand, when a predetermined movement pattern is met in step S109, such as in the case of reciprocating motion, the selected submenu item is canceled (S110), and the pop-up is terminated (S107). Thereby, it is possible to easily cancel the selection.

In FIG. 8, the submenu selected by releasing the pressure is executed. However, an execution button is arranged below the movement direction detecting means 13, and the execution button is turned on by further pressing the operation member 11. It may be made to execute by doing.
Further, although FIG. 6 shows a routine that is always executed, it may be realized as an event activation routine that is activated when the pressure state is changed from OFF to ON.

  The basic configuration and operation of the information input device 1 in the mobile terminal 50 have been described above.

Next, a modified example will be described.
In addition to the method described above, a plate-shaped transparent cover is provided on the movable part on the front of the display so as to be able to swing left and right and back and forth. Thereby, it can also be set as the system which uses the transparent cover side as a movable part.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the movable portion 70a of the portable terminal 50 is attached to the base portion 70c via the hinge mechanism 70b so as to swing back and forth.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 10, four push switches 11a to 11d are arranged, and a submenu consisting of an array of items in three rows and three columns is arranged side by side in correspondence with the push switches, so that a total of three rows 12 It is good also as a menu provided with the item of a column. In this way, the QWERTY character array can be allocated to items with a margin.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a display 74 (or a transparent display cover may be provided) is provided above the apparatus main body 71 via hinge mechanisms 72 and 73 formed of a four-node parallel link mechanism. This can be applied to a configuration in which the movable portion 75 is formed. According to this modification, the menu can be selected by swinging the movable portion 75 in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 12A or in the left-right direction as shown in FIG.

  In the above embodiment, the hinge mechanism 60 is configured in the form shown in FIG. 6, but instead the left link 63 and the right link 64 are replaced by T as in the modification shown in FIGS. Instead of being formed in the shape of a letter, it is also possible to adopt a form in which hook portions 63a and 64a projecting in a hook shape are formed below the links 63 and 64, respectively. As a result, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, when the movable portion 52 is swung, the swinging direction can be detected.

  Although details have not been described above, a configuration in which an auditory sense is made by sounding an electronic sound in the course of a menu selection operation may be employed. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve a user's operativity.

  In the configuration example of FIG. 11, the push switches 11 are arranged not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction on the upper surface of the movable portion 75. FIG. 15 shows a method of inputting a numeric keypad of a mobile phone using the push switches arranged in the vertical direction in this way. In FIG. 15, the movable part 52 is configured to be able to swing in the front-rear and left-right directions indicated by arrows. As a specific example of the swinging mechanism, any of the mechanisms described above may be used. Push switches 11a and 11b are provided on the movable portion 52, and two vertically arranged submenus 80 and 81 are displayed on the display. In this example, the push switch 11a is pushed in. Therefore, the corresponding sub menu 81 is focused, and this sub menu is highlighted in a highlighted frame. If the movable unit 52 is moved to the right while the push switch 11a is pressed, the focused item in the submenu 81 is also moved to the right. In this example, the number 6 is highlighted. When the pressure is released by releasing the finger from the push switch 11a, the number 6 is input. If the configuration of FIG. 15 is used in this way, the numeric keypad can be input efficiently by assigning the numeric keypad of the mobile phone to the items of 6 rows and 3 columns as a whole of the two vertically arranged submenus.

It is a functional block diagram of the information input device by an embodiment of the invention. It is an apparatus top view for demonstrating operation | movement of the menu item display of the information input device by embodiment of this invention. 2, (a) is a plan view showing a state where the portable terminal is unfolded, (b) is a schematic configuration diagram of a hinge mechanism, and (c) is a side view of (a). . It is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of a portable terminal. It is a top view of the movable part which shows the state which folded the movable part of the portable terminal outside. In relation to the hinge mechanism, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view, and (d) is a bottom view. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the hinge mechanism of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process part 30 of FIG. It is related with the modification of this invention, (a) is the top view, (b) is a side view. It is a top view of the display which shows the menu item display in the other modification of this invention. It is a block diagram of the portable terminal in the further another modification of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the portable terminal of FIG. It is related with the modification of the hinge mechanism of this invention, (a) is the front view, (b) is a side view of (a). It is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the hinge mechanism of FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the method to operate ten key inputs compatible with a mobile telephone by operating the two pushing keys arranged vertically on the rocking movable part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information input device 10 Input part 11 Operation member 11a-11d Push switch 12 Pressure position detection means 13 Movement direction detection means 20 Display part 30 Processing part 31 Menu pop-up means 32 Menu item highlight means 33 Menu focus control means 34 Menu pop-up Position control means 35 Chattering prevention means 40 Storage part 41 Menu selection table 51 Base part 52 Movable part 53 Key 54 Display 60 Hinge mechanism 61 Upper link 62 Lower link 63 Left link (movable contact)
63a collar (movable contact)
64 Right link (movable contact)
64a collar (movable contact)
65, 66 Fixed contact 67 Orthogonal link (movable contact)
68, 69 Fixed contact 70 Mobile terminal

Claims (9)

A movable part installed so that it can swing back and forth with respect to the base part;
Pressure position detecting means for detecting which position of the movable part is pressed;
A movement direction detecting means for detecting a direction in which the movable part has moved between the start of pressurization and the end of pressurization when the movable part is swung while being pressurized;
Based on the pressure position detected by the pressure position detection means, one of the upper menu items is selected, and based on the movement direction detected by the movement direction detection means, the lower menu has three rows and three columns. An information input device, wherein one of the arranged items is selected.   2. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing position detecting means includes a plurality of push switches that are installed on the upper surface of the movable part and pressed by a finger to be pressed.   Three or four push switches are arranged side by side on the upper surface of the movable part, and the arrangement of items in the 3 rows and 3 columns of the lower menu is arranged side by side corresponding to these push switches, A menu with 3 rows and 9 columns as a whole, or 4 rows arranged side by side, with 3 rows and 12 columns as a whole. In addition, characters are placed in this menu item to simulate the character layout of the QWERTY keyboard. The information input device according to claim 2, wherein:   Two push switches are arranged vertically on the upper surface of the movable part, and two rows and three columns of items in the lower menu are arranged vertically corresponding to these push switches. 3. The information input device according to claim 2, wherein a menu having items in three rows and columns is arranged, and characters are arranged in the menu items so as to simulate a character arrangement of a numeric keypad of a mobile phone. The base is formed as a hand-held side;
The movable part is foldable with respect to the base part via a hinge mechanism, and the hinge mechanism itself swings so that the movable part can swing back and forth, and the hinge mechanism The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the moving direction detection unit is provided in the information input device.   The hinge mechanism is provided with a stimulus applying means for stimulating the finger according to the swinging motion of the movable part from side to side and back and forth, and the stimulus is applied to the finger tactilely through the stimulus applying means. 6. The information input device according to claim 5, wherein the operator is able to distinguish the left / right front / rear swing directions. The transparent cover part is installed on the front surface of the display provided in the base part so as to be able to swing back and forth, and the transparent cover part side is used as the movable part. The information input device described in 1. In the information input device according to claims 1 to 7,
The array of items in the 3rd row and 3rd column of the lower menu associated with the position of the push switch detected by the pressurization position detection means is continuously highlighted or popped up during pressurization, and pressurization is performed. A menu control that terminates the highlight or pop-up when exiting;
Menu item highlighting means for highlighting the focused item in the 3-by-3 item array of the lower menu;
Menu focus control means for moving the focus in the menu in a direction corresponding to the swinging direction of the movable part during pressurization detected by the movement direction detection means;
An information input device comprising: A method for selecting a menu displayed on a display using a movable part installed so as to be swingable from side to side and back and forth with respect to a base part, and a plurality of push switches provided on an upper surface of the movable part,
A pressing position detecting step for detecting a pressing position for detecting which pressing switch is pressed among the pressing switches;
A moving direction detection step of detecting a direction in which the movable unit has moved between when the finger is swung while pressing the push-in switch and when pressurization is ended; and
Hierarchical menu composed of a high-order menu associated with the position of the push-in switch detected by the pressurization position detection step and a low-order menu associated with the swinging direction of the movable part detected by the movement direction detection step Continuously highlighting or popping up a menu structure during pressurization and ending the highlight or pop-up when pressurization is terminated;
Highlight the focused item in the lower menu,
Moving the focus in the menu to an item in the corresponding direction according to the swinging direction of the movable part during pressurization detected by the moving direction detecting step;
A menu selection method for a computer, comprising:

Images